Our lineup of Georgia high school Pick-6 predictions for Week 10 features all key region matchups. The outcomes of those contests will help clear up region seedings heading into the state playoffs. The Irwin County Indians travel to Quitman to take on coach Maurice Freeman’s Trojans, with the winner likely taking the region championship and top seed. It may not really matter in the big picture in Class A D-1, though. There is a strong likelihood that one of if not both teams could wind up where they have been the last two seasons: Facing each other for the state championship.
Westlake and first-year coach Rico Zachary host Joey King’s Carrollton Trojans, who have been knocking on the door of the Class 6A state title for the last few years, but have been unable to get past the quarterfinals. Now they find themselves in Class 7A with a chance to make a run once again. Westlake and RJ Johnson may have a little something to say about that. Here are my picks for those games, as well as four other top matchups across the state.
Irwin County at Brooks County
Our Georgia Week 10 Pick-6 list is headlined by this rematch of the last two Class A public state title games. Two years ago it was Irwin County defeating the Trojans for the state crown; last year, Brooks County returned the favor and brought the state title back to Quitman. While this week’s game isn’t the state championship, it could very well be considered a dress rehearsal of sorts for both teams, and it will likely determine the region champion and No. 1 seed heading into the Class A Division 1 state playoffs.
The Indians come into the game at 5-1 after defeating Pelham a week ago, while Brooks County is coming off a 34-7 victory against Early County. Both teams are solid all around, with the offenses led by playmakers at every position. Brooks County features three-year starter Jamal Sanders at quarterback, while Irwin counters with four-year starting QB Casey Soliday. RB Damarkus Lundy will get the majority of the carries for Irwin, while Brooks County will utilize Chris Cole, Sanders, and Kamari Blankumsee as an RB-by-committee weapon. Defensively, Blankumsee has the ability to be a game-changer from his strong safety position. A lot of great players will be on the field in this one. Who will makes the most great plays?
Phil’s Pick: Brooks County 19, Irwin County 18
Carrollton at Westlake
We couldn’t overlook this one as one of our Georgia Week 10 Pick-6 selections. In the year of the quarterback, this game could certainly serve as a showcase for the best veteran QB and the top first-year starter.
Westlake’s senior signal caller, RJ Johnson, has thrown for more than 1,000 yards this season and for over 8,000 yards in his stellar career. Carrolton freshman QB Julian Lewis has been turning heads all season long and has amassed over 2,000 passing yards through eight games.
While the QBs certainly deserve much of the recognition for their teams’ high scoring, they definitely have great teammates to share the credit with. Westlake RB Jai’den Thomas has 764 rushing yards with 8 TDs, along with 222 receiving yards and 3 TD catches. Meanwhile, ATH Jabari Jones has performed wherever needed this season, filling in for Johnson at QB and doing his thing at RB and WR also. He has 6 total TDs so far this season. Carrollton’s Bryce Hicks can hurt opponents by running the football or catching it. He has 9 rushing TDs and 4 receiving TDs this season. This is a tough one to pick, but here goes:
Phil’s Pick: Carrollton 31, Westlake 28
North Cobb at Kennesaw Mountain
The Warriors have represented their name well this season. They are a modest 5-2, but don’t let that record fool you. Shane Queen’s team has played an absolute monster of a schedule, facing off against the likes of Milton, Northside Warner Robins, Marietta, Westlake, Wheeler, Walton, and Buford. Next up is Kennesaw Mountain, which is still flying under most people’s radar despite getting off to a 6-0 start.
The Mustangs suffered a tough loss last week to Walton by a 42-14 final score, but they’re still a very good team, and a win over the Warriors could put them right back on the path to the region championship and No. 1 seed. They actually won their region last season as a Class 6A team and finished with a 10-2 record, but this first season in 7A has been a bit tougher and the matchup with Queen’s Warriors will be their second straight test against the new competition. Kennesaw Mountain is poised to step up; can the Mustangs pass this test?
Phil’s Pick: North Cobb 37, Kennesaw Mountain 13
Thomasville at Dougherty
This Thursday night game is about redemption. Dougherty found it last season with head coach Johnny Gilbert after battling through numerous issues over several previous seasons. Thomasville found itself starting over after first losing in the 2021 Class 2A state championship game, then losing its head coach. They started this season 0-2, and fans were about ready to throw in the towel, but head coach Johnathon Delay has turned his team around with four straight victories and five wins in the last six games.
The Bulldogs are 3-0 in Region 1-3A and now play their biggest game this season and the latest in their run of redemption. QB Cam Hill is a freshman who has had to grow up in a hurry after assuming the starting job due to injury to junior Parker Beckham. The two were rotating at the signal caller position, but the job now belongs to Hill. On the other side, Dougherty is led by Kam Davis, one of the most dynamic playmakers of any quarterback in Georgia. He runs the ball as well as he throws it, and that could be a problem for the Thomasville defense. An upset win over the undefeated Trojans would give Thomasville the upper hand in the race for the region title in 1-3A.
Phil’s Pick: Dougherty 35, Thomasville 30
Cedar Grove at Sandy Creek
This big-time Region 5-3A matchup will pit two of the best defensive fronts in the state each opposing offense, and that could very well be the difference in this one. For the Saints, they’ll have standout DEs Adonijah Green and Everett Roussaw Jr., up front, along with hard-hitting cover man Kayin Lee roaming in the defensive backfield. The Patriots have defensive playmakers Marcellius Pulliam, Travius Franklin, Joel Reid, and Kaleb Cost all wreaking havoc on defense this season, with Cost also contributing on the offensive side of the ball.
Sandy Creek quarterback Geimere Latimer is a joy to watch unless you’re playing against him. He has passed for over 1,200 yards and 15 TDs this season, and considering his 326 rushing yards and 7 TDs, he can hurt you with his running abilities as well. Cedar Grove may be known for its defense, but the Saints have some playmakers on the offensive side, too. QB EJ Colson is a dual-threat QB coming off one of his biggest games of the season, a 42-0 shutout victory over the Douglass Astros in which he ran for a TD and threw for three more.
Phil’s Pick: Sandy Creek 26, Cedar Grove 21
Lowndes at Colquitt
We wrap up our Georgia Week 10 Pick-6 predictions with this South Georgia gem. Every week and every game in Region 1-7A is a big deal, but this one always has a little something extra. Why? Well, for one thing, you’re talking about the two most successful teams over the past decade in one of the most competitive and successful regions in the state.
This year’s game will pit two former Colquitt assistants against one another, this time as opposing head coaches. Zach Grage and Sean Calhoun were both assistants under championship coach Rush Propst before heading off to run their own programs. Now here they are as first-year head coaches at new schools. Calhoun took over the Pack last offseason, returning to Colquitt County after head coaching stints at Carrollton and, most recently, Vestavia Hills in Alabama. Grage was hired to coach the Vikings after leading Thomasville to the Class 2A state title game last year.
Now Grage and Calhoun take their new teams into battle against each other at the famed “Hawg Pen,” the home of the Packers. This should be a great game, although Grage has said from day one that the best is yet to come from his young Vikings. They’ve certainly played well, including a huge home win over Grayson earlier this season. Meanwhile, Calhoun has several D-1 players who are part of the reason Colquitt is considered one of the teams that will challenge for the 7A crown.
Lowndes may be better than the sum of its parts, meaning just because it doesn’t have many four- or five-star recruits on the roster, the end results often say otherwise. Grage will have those guys ready to play. And so will Calhoun with the Packers. Buckle up, because this will be a good one. Our Georgia Week 10 Pick-6 prediction:
Phil’s Pick: Colquitt County 27, Lowndes 21
